Improvement in the construction of iron ships



W'. DONALDSON.

Construction of Iron Ships, c.

4M. .Pl/070i llllMF/l/L L'mM Y.' (05AM/nvr: MucA-554) UNITED STATES PATENT Orrren.

WILLIAM DONALDSON, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTIONOF IRON SHIPS, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 151,860, dated June 9, 1874; application filed February 2, 1874.

which would otherwise follow from a collision p or other accident occurring to the plating of such ships. The invention consists in placing a wood backing between the ribs or frames, held in place either by means of T-iron riveted on the ribs, or by making the said ribs of flanged Uv-iron. Between the wooden backing and the plates a space should be left to be filled and callied with oakum or other material, to prevent the said plates from rusting.

Figure l is a half-midship cross-section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section at water-line through three of the frames, showing the latter in cross-section. Fig. 3 is a detached crosssection of a frame.

In the drawing, A represents the frames or ribs, preferably U-shaped in cross section, with flanges a a, as seen in Fig. 3. B is the iron plating, riveted to the outer faces of said frames. Behind the plating is a backing of wooden struts, C, extending from frame to frame, being held in place by the anges a a. Between the plating and backing a sutlicient space should be left to be filled or calked with oakum or other material, to prevent the oxidization of the inner surfaces of the plates. The keel D is made of U-iron7 with a wooden fillin g.

The ordinary an gle-iron may he used for the frames, with a T-iron riveted to the inner web to hold the backing; but the U-iron I deem better and cheaper for the purpose.

It is evident that should such a hull strike the bottom, or come into collision, between the frames, a hole cannot be punched through the plating without smashing the backing, which, without being' too thick or heavy, can be much stronger as well as more elastic or resilient than the plating alone.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In iron hulls, the wooden backing composed of the struts O, extending from frame to frame, and secured by the anges a a of said frames,

substantially as shown and set forth.

WILLIAM DONALDSON. Witnesses:

I. N. WINsTnNLEY, WM. SMITH. 

